A day in Thy courts

Psalm 84:10

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

There are many things that can be done on any day of the week, and there are many things that could be done on the Lord’s Day. Many are going hither and thither buying things, selling things, and engaging in the business of the world. They are giving their time to games, play, and earthly enjoyment. But many have neglected a day in the house of God. A day in Thy courts! For us, a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand! I would rather spend the day in God’s House and enjoy the beauty of the Lord and the fellowship of His people, and worship His name, than to spend the day doing anything else. Indeed, I would rather spend one day in God’s House than a thousand days in this world! A day in Thy courts is better than a thousand!

And the psalmist goes beyond this, and says that he would rather be just a doorkeeper in the House of his God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. What does this mean? The world is “the tents of wickedness.” The world is the place of pleasure and merriment and enjoyment that brings no satisfaction in the end. The world is that place where people find no satisfaction for their desires. But the House of the Lord is different! In the House of God we find complete satisfaction of our desires! We find joy, peace, and fellowship with Him and His people! We find that at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore! You see, my friends, I would rather just be a doorkeeper there than to own all the riches of this transient and unsatisfactory world.

I’d rather be a doorkeeper! What is your job today in the House of God? Will you be in the House of God? Will you be serving the Lord? What will you do? What is your responsibility? Is it to keep the doors? If so, you have a better lot than all the people of the world combined. You have been dealt a greater and more important job than the greatest leaders and figures of society. For one day on that job is better than a thousand days on any other job. May we all say today, “a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand!” It is preferred above my chiefest joy! Let us all rush to the Lord’s House, that we may serve Him with an excited step and with an exulting heart.

“Oh God, we thank You for the House that we may go to each week, even though it may be only one day or two days. That day (the Lord’s Day), is better than all the other days put together. We would rather spend a day in Your House than a day doing the grandest and greatest and most glamorous things the world has to offer. Compared to Your House, all that has no appeal. We would rather spend the day with You. And whether we are a doorkeeper or anything else, may this day be full of Your most wonderful blessings, as we worship and serve You from our hearts. In Jesus’ lovely name we pray, Amen.”